True Freshman? (1 Viewer)

[SaintBeau]

I'm not much of a college ball watcher, but one of my friends is a big Tulane fan so sometimes we end up watching the games together. I noticed yesterday that someone was referred to as a "true" freshman? Is that someone who is not a transfer? Someone who didn't go to community college? I guess I'm not getting what would make someone a fake freshman . . .

 

[JimEverett]

it means that the school has investigated and has determined that he is not a professional athelte.

Schools playing a regular freshman risk having winning games overturned if their freshment turn out to not be "true"

 

[someone]

A true freshman plays his first year in college, during his academic freshman year.

There isn't a "fake" freshman. The other term is a redshirt freshman. That means he's still in his first year of eligibility, but in his second academic year. A player can be redshirted if he doesn't play a snap all year long. It basically allows them to practice and learn while retaining that year of eligibility. A player can also receive a medical redshirt to replace a year they've lost due to injury. The NCAA determines whether to grant a medical redshirt. A player can play, but if he's out for the year early enough in the season, he can still be granted the redshirt.

 

[GeauxSaints53]

It just means he wasn't redshirted. Not sure if Jim was joking or just plain wrong.

 

[SaintBeau]

Very cool. I never gave much thought about it before, but for some reason I noticed it and wondered about it yesterday. So, I guess that a "true freshman" is kind of the equivalent of a rookie in the NFL?

 

[KardiacKat]

Very cool. I never gave much thought about it before, but for some reason I noticed it and wondered about it yesterday. So, I guess that a "true freshman" is kind of the equivalent of a rookie in the NFL?

Kinda. It's a significant thing to note because most guys don't play much or at all in their first year of college. If a guy is starting as a true freshman, he's either a huge talent or the team didn't have a choice.

 

[SaintBeau]

Kinda. It's a significant thing to note because most guys don't play much or at all in their first year of college. If a guy is starting as a true freshman, he's either a huge talent or the team didn't have a choice.

That does make sense when you lay it out like that. I guess I always assumed the same about a rookie who starts. Thanks!

It just means he wasn't redshirted. Not sure if Jim was joking or just plain wrong.

Thanks! For what it's worth, I took Jim's answer as a joke.

 

[Danchrism]

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